Classical outlasts English to reach Clancy final

LYNN?The Classical Rams won the rubber game of three contests against the English Bulldogs, 9-7, Friday night at Fraser Field and will take on St. Mary?s in the championship game of the Clancy Tournament.
The Rams and St. Mary?s Spartans will be featured in the title game at 3 p.m. on Saturday. English will face North Reading in the consolation game at noon.
Classical was looking to bounce back from an extra-inning loss to English on Wednesday, and the Rams (13-4) came out swinging, scoring four in the bottom of the first after the Bulldogs (12-5) went down, 1-2-3. Tyler Way and Damien Earp both drew walks, Brandon Devin reached on an error, and Andre Gaudet drove in one with Classical?s first hit. Matt Lauria followed with a two-run single.
In the second, Classical?s Kyle Morrill led off with an infield hit and stole both second and third. Way walked and swiped second as the Bulldogs? infield held a meeting on the mound without calling a timeout. Bulldogs? starter Brett Holey loaded the bases with a walk to Earp, his fourth of the evening, and was lifted for reliever Denny Santana after an inning and a third. Holey, responsible for seven runs, struggled with command.
Devin drove in two with a bases-loaded single, and was caught between first and second trying to steal, allowing Earp to streak home for the Rams? seventh run.
?When we get those top of the order guys on, they can steal some bases, and we rely on the middle of the lineup guys to get them in,” said Classical coach Mike Zukowski. “That?s been our MO this season.”
Santana?s performance should not be overlooked, as he kept the Bulldogs in the game, pitching (4 ?) innings, allowing two runs on two hits and four walks.
On the mound for Classical, Way retired nine straight to start the game, but in the fourth, Rams? outfielders couldn?t locate a pop fly off the bat of Kyle O?Connor and it fell for a double in center. Anthony de la Cruz reached as a high fly to right dropped out of reach of Lauria. English got on the board with a two-out double steal, but Way ended the inning with his fourth strikeout.
Things fell apart for Way in the fifth. A hit batter and walk to lead off the inning put two on, and Brett Molea drove in one with a single to center. An errant throw led to another run on the play as Lucas Harris came in to score. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with two walks and a single from O?Connor that knocked in Molea and brought English within three.
That would be it for Way, who was replaced by Matt Stanley after four plus innings, responsible for five runs, four hits, and two walks. The Bulldogs would get one more in the inning to get within two, but the Rams limited the damage with a double play and a groundout to end the threat.
Classical got one back in the bottom of the inning, as Gaudet drew a leadoff walk and scored on a wild pitch.
English came back again in the top of the sixth. Tony Medrano drew a leadoff walk and pinch runner JC Gonzalez scored from first on Tyler Story?s single. Unsure if Gonzalez touched the plate, Lauria ? who had moved from the outfield to catcher ? chased him back to the dugout to tag, while Story scooted all the way to third. A passed ball scored Story and brought English within one, but the Rams manufactured a run in the bottom of the frame when Kyle Morrill walked and eventually scored on a passed ball.
?We came out great, firing on all cylinders and took advantage of some mistakes,” said Zukowski. “But then we fell into a lull in the middle innings. They took advantage and put the pressure on. We were lucky to get a couple late runs to give us some breathing room. A win?s a win, and I?m happy we got one.”
?I?m proud of the way the guys fought back,” said English coach Joe Caponigro. “We didn?t give up. We made too many early mistakes, but I?m very proud of the way they battled.”
Katie Morrison may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @KatieMo61.